Xiande Hall, another court meeting.

After Li Shimin sat down, his close ministers reported that it was the Western Turkic Marquis Qulishibi Khan and Yivibalosiyehu Khan who sent envoys to pay homage.

It turned out that the Western Turkic regiment Yehu Khan was killed by his uncle, and he proclaimed himself Qulishibi Khan, the Marquis of Mohedu.

In order to avoid the murder of his own life, Zhilitle, the son of Tongyehu Khan, fled to Kangju. Nishu from the Nobubi tribe sent someone to welcome him back and established him as Yipiboluo Siyehu Khan. Since then, he and Mohedu have attacked each other, and the war has continued to be fire.

As the Western Turks fell into division, the countries in the Western Regions and the Tiel tribes that had previously surrendered were rebelling one after another.

The two khans were in stalemate for a while, and felt alone, so they showed goodwill to the Tang Dynasty and asked for marriage.

Li Shimin obtained the opinions of the court officials and summoned the two envoys into the hall at the same time, denounced: "Your country is disturbed, the king and the ministers are not determined, and the war is endless, so how can you talk about marriage?"

So they refused their request for marriage and ordered them to defend their jurisdiction and stop fighting each other.

After the two envoys retreated, Li Shimin said to his ministers: "This battle in Shuofang not only wiped out the Liang Shidu, but also defeated the reinforcements of the Eastern Turks, and severely destroyed Jie Li's arrogance.

Now the Hetao area is under the control of our Tang Dynasty, and only the Wuyuan area has not yet been recovered.

What do you think about the disposal of Shuofang and Yulin?”

Li Jing went out to report: "Although the land of Shuofang and Yulin has been recovered, the Turkic Yushe station is still stationed in the Wuyuan area.

I think we should immediately repair the city and adjust the military palace, train soldiers quickly, and beware of Jie Li's invasion."

Fang Xuanling also replied: "What Li Shangshu said is very true. How could Jie Li let go if he loses the chess piece Liang Shidu? In addition, he suffers natural disasters and suffers heavy losses, so he will definitely wait for an opportunity to go south to rob.

Our Tang Dynasty can guard the key points and build Shuofang and Yulin into a barrier in Guanzhong to defend the enemy outside Guanzhong."

"Um……"

Li Shimin nodded frequently when he heard this.

The so-called lean camel is bigger than a horse.

Although the Eastern Turks are gradually declining, their strength cannot be underestimated.

Even though the Tang Dynasty had a depth of hundreds of miles, it seemed that Jie Li could still reach Guanzhong at any time.

At this time, Du Ruhui replied: "Why not follow the strategy of Gongsun Wuda and develop agriculture and horse politics in Shuofang and Yulin?

With the curved plow he provided, grain production in the Hetao area can be restored in the shortest time.

And horseshoe, Gaoqiao Saddle, and the herd supervision system, can create an unrivaled jockey for our Tang Dynasty in time."

Li Shimin deeply agreed after hearing this.

It is said that it was Gongsun Wuda, but it is actually the idea of ​​the child Luo Taisui.

Moreover, the child Luo Taisui realized the advantages of the Hetao area before he decided to attack Liang Shidu.

“The Hetao area cannot be lost again!”

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "In the future, it will not only be a barrier to Guanzhong, but will also replace Guanzhong and become one of the most important grain-producing areas."

After pausing, he said again: "When Guanzhong will implement the return of farmland to forests."

When the ministers heard this, they were immediately puzzled.

Returning farmland to forests?

What does this mean?

At this time, Li Shimin continued: "You guys may have not heard of the so-called return of farmland to forests.

In fact, it is very simple. It is to stop farming with severe soil erosion and cultivated land with low grain yields and unstable grain production as planned and instead plant suitable tree vegetation to conserve moisture.”

This is actually the long-term strategy proposed by Luo Taisui to solve the locust plague.

Li Shimin has been recording it and will only have the opportunity to carry out the implementation until the Hetao area is recovered.

"What does your majesty mean?"

The ministers were even more puzzled.

The meaning of returning farmland to forests is to know, what is the meaning?

At this time, people have not yet protected trees and maintained the concept of vegetation coverage.

It was only after Li Shimin's guidance that he had Luo Taisui's words that he had initially formed this consciousness.

This is also where he is ahead of his ministers in his thoughts.

"You guys know that the trees in Guanzhong are no longer as good as before because of wanton deforestation?" Li Shimin stood up and said.

The ministers looked at each other and shook their heads.

Is this very important?

"I'd better tell you the Qing family."

Li Shimin said slowly: "As we all know, every household needs firewood to make firewood.

And where does the firewood come from?

Of course, it’s cutting down trees.”

After pausing, he said again: "Think about it, how many people are there in Chang'an?

More than one million.

What about Guanzhong?"

"About three million." Dai Zhou reported.

"The population of more than three million, how much firewood is needed to make a fire and cook?" Li Shimin glanced at the ministers one by one, "There are countless!"

Of course, it's more than that.

Iron forging in Guanzhong area, and even the fuel used by wealthy people in the households is charcoal, and charcoal is made of firewood, which requires wasting more trees...

Has anyone calculated how long will the forests in Guanzhong area be cut down?"

Faced with his inquiry, the ministers were silent.

Since ancient times, people have relied on the mountains to eat and drink water, and never thought of the day when the mountains and rivers were over.

Li Shimin smiled bitterly and said, "I have never calculated it. But I know that if I cut down arbitrarily without planting it, the once dense trees will disappear in Guanzhong one day.

What kind of scene would it be?"

The ground is covered with yellow sand and there is no one in the smoke.

People cannot continue to live and will eventually choose to leave.

Only a desolate land...

"Someone once told me that locust plagues occur frequently in Guanzhong are precisely because of wanton cutting down trees and excessive cultivation of land, which causes soil erosion.

The drought environment prompted the breeding of locusts, which shows that the vegetation of the trees in Guanzhong has been damaged to a very serious level."

Li Shimin said in a heavy mood: "So, I intend to develop the Hetao area to relieve the food pressure in Guanzhong.

In addition to replanting trees in the cut down areas, Guanzhong also needs to take the lead in planting trees on some low-yield farmlands."

Doing so is said to allow the land to be cultivated.

The ministers looked at each other after hearing this.

Plant trees on plowing fields?

Then isn’t the grain output less?

"You guys don't have to worry." Li Shimin smiled and said, "After the trees grow, they can be used as various woods and can also be burned with charcoal."

...

In addition to replanting trees in the cut down areas, Guanzhong also needs to take the lead in planting trees on some low-yield farmlands."

Doing so is said to allow the land to be cultivated.

The ministers looked at each other after hearing this.

Plant trees on plowing fields?

Then isn’t the grain output less?

"You guys don't have to worry." Li Shimin smiled and said, "After the trees grow, they can be used as various woods and can also be burned with charcoal."
Chapter completed!